Breakthrough? Against Those Monsters?
“Breakthrough? Against those monsters?”
“Why? You think we can’t?”
“Don’t bother with the pointless taunts. Taking them down isn’t the issue. But those spiders in the tomb—they’re blind without eyes, sure, that’s their weakness. On the flip side, they’re all linked through the queen’s web. The moment we hit one, every monster in that chamber will swarm us.”
“I know.”
The basics of dungeon clears usually involved the tank pulling a portion of the monsters in a room, dragging them back to the party, and picking them off one by one. There were about thirty monsters lurking behind the walls too, but they weren’t all clustered together—they seemed grouped in fours or fives, perfect for pulling separately.
Of course, Rerto Karen must’ve tried splitting them up the same way.
But that was the trap. Unlike other dungeons, the Spider Lord’s Tomb had a nasty twist: you couldn’t pull them piecemeal like that.
The instant even one gets aggro, you’re facing every monster in every room.
It was billed as a party dungeon, but in reality, it was massive enough that you needed a full raid just to handle the trash mobs before the spider queen.
And since it’s an open dungeon, not instanced, there’s no limit on raiders—which means no one figures this out early on.
Still, Red Sickle not batting an eye when I claimed I could handle dozens at once made him look even more impressive.
The tomb’s trash mobs are around level 50. Even for Red Sickle, juggling that many at once would be tough—but not impossible.
He was probably running the odds in his head right now.
“I know Phlia’s skills better than anyone. The real worry is you holding us back.”
Red Sickle spoke as if reading my mind. Naturally, he wanted to test my abilities.
“The tomb’s spiders are all connected via the queen’s web, just like you said. But it’s not the whole tomb linked together—only the rooms separated by walls.”
She nodded at my words.
“The webs look flawless, but they’ve got a weakness. The strands under their feet act like a single signal network, all connected. But for mobility, the vertical strands have no stickiness—only the horizontal ones do. Of course, the queen’s Mortem Web Magic has no such flaw.”
“I know that too. That’s why you brought the sand snail essence, right?”
I nodded at her words.
“You’d think the non-sticky verticals are the weak point, but actually, it’s the essence-coated horizontals. The essence reacts with the stickiness and melts them away.”
Phlia said it with full confidence. As expected from someone from Obela, she knew the tomb inside out.
Except for one crucial detail.
“Well, you’ve only ever come here to loot artifacts, never to hunt, so it’s natural you wouldn’t know.”
“What do you—?”
“You’re right—smear essence on a weapon, and you can slice the horizontals. But the spiders’ signal network runs through those sticky horizontals. Cut one, and they all swarm us at once.”
“But so far—”
“Their prey is humans, not artifacts. The stickiness serves multiple purposes: signal network on the floor webs, preservation wrapping for artifacts. They’re separate systems.”
“Ah……”
“That’s why every adventurer who challenged the tomb failed—they found out the sand snail essence wrecked the webs and tried chopping them all up.”
“Then…… what do we do?”
“Stick to the non-sticky verticals as footholds, avoid the horizontals entirely, and we can pick them off without triggering the swarm.”
“Whoa……”
She couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Phlia, you’re the fastest here, so coat your daggers with essence and rescue those two I point out.”
“People……?”
“Besides the floor webs, there’ll be cocoon-like bundles.”
Phlia nodded.
“Handle your weapons carefully. Don’t let the essence touch any horizontals.”
“You watch yourself. Fighting on webs is like tightrope walking.”
“Worried about me instead of your trusted subordinate?”
“……I trust you, so no need to worry.”
Phlia smirked at my words, then slathered essence on her daggers.
“Alright, briefing over. Red Sickle, handle combat flexibly, but remember: I take left, you take right.”
Red Sickle’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at me. In Red Fang Mercenaries’ tactics, the leader took right flank. By yielding it to him, I was acknowledging his skill—and though he said nothing, he clearly saw me in a new light.
Kwaaang—!!!
A sharp boom echoed as he kicked off the ground, gripping his twin chakrams.
“Let’s go.”
As he charged in, Phlia melted into the shadows, and I drew Tesaro’s sword to follow.
[Kirruk……! Kirrrruk……!!]
[Karrurruk……!!]
Turning the corner inside the wall revealed webs strung densely, coiled like tree trunks, teeming with dozens of spiders. Larger ones with black spots had three or four smaller ones clustered around them.
Tiiing—!!Tang!!
A faint glint from a sticky horizontal strand in the dark. I stepped lightly, bouncing off the webs like trampolines, advancing carefully.
“Spotted spiders first.”
I pointed to the leftmost mid-tier spotted spider leading the regulars.
Kwagagang!!
Red Sickle’s chakram shot from his hand, whipping up a fierce wind and smashing dead-center into the spider’s head atop its web perch.
True Chilya 1st Sword
[Kee-ee-eek!!!!]
As it flipped from the impact, I stomped the strand hard and lunged, slashing its legs.
Kakang—!!
I’d poured every ounce of energy into the full-force strike, yet my sword bounced off like it hit tempered steel.
“……!”
Be careful. They’re no ordinary monsters—these are tough. Want me to lend you some power?
No. I want to handle this solo for now.
Figured you’d say that. Fine, just advice then: don’t slash the sticky strands. Aim for the belly, not the legs. Their shells are tough, but there’s a gap under the abdominal plating.
Black Eye rattled off the spider strategy like a pro.
You’ve been here before?
In life, yeah. Around your age, too. Got to basement 3 before my sword dulled and I turned back.
Solo?
Of course. If I’d had White Night then, I could’ve gone deeper.
I was floored.
Soloing a raid-scale dungeon like this……
It might sound casual, but in my dreams, I’d once led knights here. Not Glory’s 9, but elite Holy Spear Knights—and even then, we barely hit floor 4 before weapons wore out.
His casual mention brought back those grueling memories.
Well, that’s how we found the key items to clear the tomb…
I gave a wry smile and refocused on my sword.
“Hup……. Hup……”
Catching my breath, I thrust Tesaro’s blade into the flipped spider’s belly.
The tension was worlds apart from White Swamp. There, it was just one boss. Here, even trash mobs demanded full focus—one slip, and death.
Swaang—!!
The sword traced a glowing arc through the dark.
Shiiik—!!
It sliced diagonally into the abdominal shell.
Kwajik! A crunch like shattering crustacean armor.
True Chilya 1st Sword
Peureok—!Kwagagak……!
The wedged blade spiraled with energy, drilling through the shell like a corkscrew. Guts exploded out with a wet splatter.
Chilya 1st Sword Lv1 proficiency increased.
Current proficiency: 3%
Proficiency unlocks additional effects at stages: 10%, 30%, 70%, 100%.
“Next!”
Red Sickle had already cleared the rest and moved to a new cluster.
Hwaruruk—!!!
His chakrams ignited like roaring flames this time, shadows stretching long in the flickering light.
Red Sickle (NPC) infuses chakrams with energy.
Five Color Ring Lv20 used!
Kwaaaang—!!!
Red Sickle danced lightly across the webs, precisely targeting only spotted spiders.
I watched his movements while focusing on my sword. Aside from Black Eye, this was my first time seeing another master swordsman in action.
I pressed on, gutting the remaining spiders.
Energy Manipulation Lv1 proficiency increased.
Chilya 1st Sword Lv1 proficiency increased.
Sword Specialization Lv2 proficiency increased.
Swordsmanship Lv17(+3) proficiency increased.
Trash mobs, sure—but in this high-level dungeon, killing them spiked my proficiencies fast.
Kaang—!!!Kwaduduk—!!
The final spider’s shell shattered with a dull thud, its legs twitching to stillness. Only then did I exhale.
“Hoo……”
Red Sickle yanked his gore-soaked chakrams from a corpse, flicking them clean in the air.
Interesting battle style.
Black Eye sounded intrigued after seeing the Five Color Ring—Red Sickle’s unique skill absorbing five elements into his chakram edges.
But anyone wielding a bladed weapon should fight with raw skill as the foundation.
Still useful.
Best of the bunch I’ve seen so far.
Earning Black Eye’s nod said it all about Red Sickle’s prowess.
Chwaaak—!!
Then—a tear from a web-shrouded cocoon in the corner.
“Puha……!!!”
A sweat-drenched face emerged, gasping: Los Clan’s vice-leader, Pimel.
“Huk……. Huk……”
Her golden hair matted, she lifted her head with effort.
“Phlia. Peel off half the rest.”
At my order, she nodded and carefully sliced with her essence-coated dagger.
“As expected…… Kim Do-hyun, it’s you.”
Unlike Pimel, Rerto Karen looked relatively unscathed in his cocoon.
“Figured you’d gone mage…… but wielding a sword? Unpredictable as ever.”
I’d considered masking up before entering but decided against it. My top PVP rank had other suspects, hard to pin down—and a sword-wielding me would sow chaos among the Eight Clans.
“Master……!!”
Pimel rushed to Rerto as her webs peeled away.
“Out of the way!”
She shoved Phlia roughly, clawing at Rerto’s bindings.
“Rude to your rescuers. Eight Clans think they own the place? Or does Rerto Karen’s protection make you think you’re him, Pimel?”
“Stop. You wouldn’t help for nothing.”
“What do you know about me to spout that crap?”
“Pimel, enough!!”
Rerto shouted at her.
“Rescue squad’s coming soon. Just buy a little more time……”
“Blabbering pest.”
Seogeok—
“……!!!!”
My sword, radiating sharp intent, plunged straight into Pimel’s throat.
“Guk? Keok……”
Drained from the cocoon, she couldn’t block.
“……PIMEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Rerto’s scream echoed like a death wail.
Sseu……
She crumbled to ash in seconds, leaving gold, potions, and her armor.
“Quiet. Haven’t assessed the situation yet?”
Rerto stared at me, face rigid.
“Your turn to answer.”
Chilkeok— My blade tip met his chin.
“So, did I come to save you…… or kill you?”